Verizon Waives Fees for Sandy Victims

Verizon says it won't charge customers who live in areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy for service lost during the massive 'superstorm.' On a case-by-case basis, the company will also consider helping people in other locations.

The network says the fee waiver is part of an ongoing program to help victims and restore cellphone service.

Under the program, Verizon will waive fees for customers in ten New York counties and twenty-one New Jersey counties.

The deal involves waiving the fees for all domestic calls and texts made by customers in the designated counties between October 29 (when the storm hit) and November 16. (Source: verizonwireless.com)

Verizon Customers Need Take No Action to Receive the Savings

Under Verizon's fee waiver program, any calls or texts made during that period won't show up on a customer's bill. This means there will be no need for customers to claim a credit or take any other action.

Customers will still be charged any applicable monthly service charges. However, Verizon will waive any late fees related to the payments made after the usual deadlines.

Verizon has made clear that customers who went over any monthly call or text limits will still get an automated alert, but won't be charged for the calls and texts.

Other Networks Waive Late Fees

AT&T and T-Mobile have both said they'll waive any late fees for customers who were unable to pay their bills on time because of the storm, and will delay cutting off service to customers who are late in paying service charges. (Source: pcmag.com)

The full list of counties eligible for Verizon's offer is:

New York: Bronx County, Kings County, Nassau County, New York County, Putnam County, Queens County, Richmond County, Rockland County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County

New Jersey: Atlantic City, Bergen County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Essex County, Gloucester County, Hudson County, Hunterdon County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Ocean County, Passaic County, Salem County, Somerset County, Sussex County, Union County, and Warren County.

Customers in other areas who have suffered hardship as a result of the storm can call 1-800-922-0204 and see about making special payment arrangements.

Verizon says that by Friday, November 2, just four days after the storm hit the US, it had restored full service to 97 per cent of its affected cellphone stations.